• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.305-316
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• 2017

Austenitic stainless steels have been widely used for various systems of nuclear power plants. Among these stainless steels, small pipes with diameter less than 14 inch have been produced in the form of seamless pipe. Annealing and cooling process during the manufacturing process can affect corrosion properties of seamless stainless steels. Therefore, 12 inch-diameter of as-received 304L stainless steel pipe was annealed and aged in this study. Intergranular corrosion resistance was evaluated by ASTM A262 Practice A, C, and E methods. The degree of sensitization was determined using a DL-EPR test. U-bend method in an autoclave was used to evaluate the SCC resistance in 0.01 M $Na_2S_4O_6$ or 40% NaOH solution at $340^{\circ}C$. As-received specimen showed relatively high degree of sensitization and intergranular corrosion rate. Carbon segregation was also observed near grain boundaries. Annealing treatment could give the dissolution of segregated carbon into the matrix. Aging treatment could induce segregation of carbon and finally form carbides. Microstructural analysis confirmed that high intergranular corrosion rate of the as-received seamless pipe was due to micro-galvanic corrosion between carbon segregation and grains.